Arsenal: las armas de las artes marciales
Espadas, bastones, hojas, armas flexibles, arcos y herramientas de entrenamiento de todo el mundo: qué es cada una, de dónde viene y qué artes la usan.
83 armas y piezas
Tanto
短刀Knives and bladesJapan
A Japanese dagger with a blade under 30 cm. Wooden tanto are used to practise knife defence in aikido, jujutsu and judo.
Foto: Sano Art properties · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Naginata
薙刀Spears and polearmsJapan
A curved blade on a long shaft, used by warrior monks and samurai. In the Edo period it became the weapon taught to women of samurai families.
Foto: SLIMHANNYA · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Yari
槍Spears and polearmsJapan
The straight-headed Japanese spear. In the civil-war era it was the main weapon of foot soldiers, more important on the battlefield than the sword.
Foto: SLIMHANNYA · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Jo
杖Staffs and sticksJapan
A wooden staff of about 128 cm. Jodo and aikido use it to strike, thrust and control a swordsman's wrists.
Foto: Lakkisto Jarkko · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Bo
棒Staffs and sticksOkinawa
The long staff, traditionally six shaku (about 182 cm). It is the first weapon learned in Okinawan kobudo.
Foto: Unknown · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Sai
釵Knives and bladesOkinawa
A three-pronged metal truncheon, pointed but not sharpened. The side prongs trap and block a stick or blade.
Foto: chris 論 14:53, 22 May 2007 (UTC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Tonfa
トンファーStaffs and sticksOkinawa
A stick with a side handle, spun to strike and held along the forearm to block. It inspired the side-handle baton used by many police forces.
Foto: Yo · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Nunchaku
ヌンチャクFlexible weaponsOkinawa
Two sticks joined by a cord or chain. An Okinawan kobudo weapon, it became famous around the world through Bruce Lee's films in the 1970s.
Foto: No machine-readable author provided. Jimmijon~commonswiki as · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Kama
鎌Knives and bladesOkinawa
A rice sickle turned into a weapon. Kobudo uses it in pairs, to hook, block and cut.
Foto: Alexander310 at English Wikipedia · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Jutte
十手Staffs and sticksJapan
An iron truncheon with a side hook, carried by Edo-period police. It was used to catch a sword blade and arrest without killing.
Foto: Samuraiantiqueworld · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Kusarigama
鎖鎌Flexible weaponsJapan
A sickle joined to a chain with a weight. The chain entangles the enemy's weapon or legs, and the sickle finishes the fight.
Foto: Kusarigama.jpg: Mkill derivative work: AMorozov · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Tessen
鉄扇Shields and protectionJapan
A folding fan with iron ribs. Samurai could carry it where swords were not allowed and use it to parry and strike.
Foto: BrokenSphere · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Mokuju (baioneta)
木銃Spears and polearmsJapan
Jukendo is fought with a wooden rifle with a padded tip, a training version of the rifle with bayonet.
Foto: ノースマン5614 (Norseman5614) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Jian
劍SwordsChina
The straight, double-edged Chinese sword, called the "gentleman of weapons". Tai chi sword forms are among the most practised in the world.
Foto: Unknown · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Dao
刀SwordsChina
The single-edged Chinese sabre, called the "general of weapons". It was the standard sidearm of Chinese soldiers for centuries.
Foto: Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Qiang (lança)
槍Spears and polearmsChina
The Chinese spear, the "king of weapons", with a red tassel below the head that hides the shaft's movement. Xingyiquan and bajiquan grew from spear training.
Foto: Geni · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Guandao
關刀Spears and polearmsChina
A heavy blade on a long pole, named after the general Guan Yu. Historians think it appeared centuries after him; it was also used to test soldiers' strength.
Foto: Sam / Olai Ose / Skjaervoy from Zhangjiagang, China · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Martelo meteoro
流星錘Flexible weaponsChina
Weights on the ends of a long rope, swung around the body. Today it is mostly a spectacular wushu performance weapon.
Foto: Samuraiantiqueworld · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Dardo de corda
繩鏢Flexible weaponsChina
A metal dart on a long rope, thrown and pulled back by wrapping the rope around the arms, legs and neck.
Foto: Eric Shou-Li Yao · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Chicote de nove secções
九節鞭Flexible weaponsChina
Metal rods joined by rings, with a dart at the end. It can be folded and hidden, then spun at great speed.
Foto: The original uploader was Drhaggis at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Bastão de três secções
三節棍Flexible weaponsChina
Three short staffs joined by chains. It strikes around a block and is one of the hardest Chinese weapons to master.
Foto: NathanielPoe at English Wikipedia · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Facas chifre de veado
鹿角刀Knives and bladesChina
Pairs of crescent blades held in the middle, the signature weapon of baguazhang, used while walking in circles.
Foto: Yunshui · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Espadas de gancho
鈎SwordsChina
Swords with a hooked tip and a crescent guard. Two can be linked by the hooks to reach further.
Foto: Chris · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Boneco de madeira
木人樁Training toolsChina
A wooden post with arms and a leg, used in Wing Chun to train blocks, angles and footwork. It has its own form of over 100 movements.
Foto: DarkCryst at en.wikipedia. · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Gakgung
角弓Bows and throwingKorea
The Korean horn bow, short and very powerful, made of horn, bamboo and sinew. Korean archery is still practised on traditional ranges.
Foto: Historiographer · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Kris
kerisKnives and bladesSoutheast Asia
The asymmetric, often wavy dagger of Indonesia and Malaysia. It is both a weapon and a spiritual heirloom; UNESCO lists the Indonesian kris as heritage of humanity.
Foto: Rijksmuseum · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Karambit
kerambitKnives and bladesSoutheast Asia
A small curved knife shaped like a claw, with a ring for the finger. It comes from farm tools of Sumatra and Java.
Foto: Tropenmuseum · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Golok
Knives and bladesSoutheast Asia
A heavy machete-like blade from Indonesia and Malaysia, a farm tool and a silat weapon.
Foto: Oki the sniper · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Balisong
Knives and bladesSoutheast Asia
The Filipino folding "butterfly knife", whose handle splits in two around the blade.
Foto: JulianH · CC BY-SA 2.0 de · Wikimedia Commons
Bolo
itakKnives and bladesSoutheast Asia
The Filipino farm machete. Eskrima teaches that the same movements work with a stick, a bolo or empty hands.
Foto: Gary Todd · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Baston (pau de rattan)
bastonStaffs and sticksSoutheast Asia
The rattan stick of eskrima, about 70 cm long, often used in pairs (doble baston). Rattan is light and does not splinter.
Foto: bdleaf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Krabi / daab
กระบี่SwordsSoutheast Asia
The Thai sword. In krabi krabong fighters often use two at once (daab song mue).
Foto: Kru Tony Moore · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Khanda
ਖੰਡਾSwordsIndia
A straight, double-edged sword that broadens at the tip. It also appears in the symbol of the Sikh faith.
Foto: Archit Patel at English Wikipedia · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Chakram
ਚੱਕਰBows and throwingIndia
A sharpened steel ring thrown like a disc. Nihang Sikh warriors carry chakrams on their tall turbans.
Foto: The original uploader was Nemissimo at German Wikipedia. · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Silambam (bastão)
சிலம்பம்Staffs and sticksIndia
The bamboo staff of Tamil silambam, spun in fast figure-of-eight patterns around the body.
Foto: Bivin pon singh · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Knobkerrie / induku
iwisaStaffs and sticksAfrica
A short club with a heavy knob, used in southern Africa. In Nguni stick fighting one stick attacks and the other defends.
Foto: Leo za1 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Espada de armas
arming swordSwordsEurope
The one-handed knightly sword, often used with a buckler. The oldest known fencing manual, MS I.33 (around 1300), teaches sword and buckler.
Foto: Völkerwanderer · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Broquel
bucklerShields and protectionEurope
A small round shield held in the fist, used to deflect blows and protect the sword hand.
Foto: Pearson Scott Foresman · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Zweihänder
SwordsEurope
A huge Renaissance two-handed sword, used by Landsknecht mercenaries to break pike formations.
Foto: Bracher at German Wikipedia (Original text: Christoph Brache · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Ropera / rapieira
espada roperaSwordsEurope
A long, slender thrusting sword of the 16th and 17th centuries, the civilian sword of duels. The Spanish "destreza" studied it with geometry.
Foto: Rama · CC BY-SA 2.0 fr · Wikimedia Commons
Espadim
épée de courSwordsEurope
The light court sword of the 18th century. Modern fencing, especially the foil, grew from its training.
Foto: Rama · CC BY-SA 2.0 fr · Wikimedia Commons
Florete
fleuretSwordsEurope
A light thrusting weapon; touches count only on the torso and the attacker must have "right of way".
Foto: Marie-Lan Nguyen · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Espada (esgrima)
épéeSwordsEurope
The heaviest fencing weapon, from the duelling sword. The whole body is a target and there is no right of way.
Foto: No machine-readable author provided. FCartegnie assumed (bas · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Sabre
SwordsEurope
A curved cavalry sword. In fencing it scores with the edge and the point, above the waist, and is the fastest weapon.
Foto: Marie-Lan Nguyen · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Feder
FederschwertTraining toolsEurope
A blunt, flexible steel training longsword with a wide base to the blade. Already used in the 16th century, it is the standard HEMA sparring sword.
Foto: Paulus Hector Mair · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Bastão inglês
quarterstaffStaffs and sticksEurope
The English staff of six to nine feet. George Silver called it one of the best weapons for a single fight.
Foto: uploaded to en:Wikipedia by en:User:Tagishsimon · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Alabarda
HellebardeSpears and polearmsEurope
An axe blade, spike and hook on one long pole, the weapon of Swiss infantry; the Swiss Guard still carries it.
Foto: , Lucas, 1534-1584 (viaf)47561729 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Varapau
pauStaffs and sticksEurope
The Portuguese fighting stick, about the height of the chin or shoulder, once carried by shepherds and farmers of the north.
Foto: Helder Gandra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Bengala de combate
canneStaffs and sticksEurope
A light chestnut walking stick, 95 cm long. French canne de combat and Edwardian bartitsu turned the gentleman's cane into a self-defence weapon.
Foto: David Kieffer (club de canne de Strasbourg) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Gládio
gladiusSwordsEurope
The short Roman sword, used for thrusting in tight formation. Gladiators took their name from it.
Foto: No machine-readable author provided. Rama assumed (based on · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Berimbau
Uniforms and traditionAmericas
A one-string musical bow with a gourd. It leads the capoeira roda and sets the speed and style of the game.
Foto: United States National Museum (Smithsonian Institution), Was · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Saco de boxe
heavy bagTraining toolsEurope
The heavy bag trains power and combinations. Thai bags are longer, to kick and knee.
Foto: Unknown · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Luvas de boxe
glovesShields and protectionEurope
Padded gloves made compulsory by the Queensberry Rules of 1867. They protect the hand more than the head.
Foto: Julieb2768 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Mongkhon e prajioud
มงคลUniforms and traditionSoutheast Asia
The sacred headband (mongkhon) and armbands (prajioud) of Thai boxers, blessed by the teacher and worn during the wai khru ritual.
Foto: B20180 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Kard chuek
คาดเชือกUniforms and traditionSoutheast Asia
Hemp rope wrapped around the hands of old Thai boxers, before gloves arrived in the 1920s and 1930s.
Foto: Kru Tony Moore · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Hakama
袴Uniforms and traditionJapan
Wide pleated trousers of the samurai. Its seven pleats are often said to stand for seven virtues of budo.
Foto: michel-Laurent Dioptaz · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Cinto negro
黒帯Uniforms and traditionJapan
Jigoro Kano introduced the dan ranks and the black belt in judo in the 1880s. A black belt marks the end of the basics, not mastery.
Foto: K21edgo · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commonsespada preta
Espada preta
Training toolsEurope
The "black sword" of Portuguese and Spanish fencing: a blunt practice sword, unlike the sharp "white" sword. Thomaz Luiz wrote a treatise on its lessons in 1685.
montante
Montante
SwordsEurope
The great two-handed sword of Portugal and Spain (15th–17th c.). Masters used it to break up fights, and Diogo Gomes de Figueyredo wrote its rules in 1651.
cajado
Cajado
Staffs and sticksEurope
The shepherd’s staff of northern Portugal, a close relative of the varapau. In jogo do pau it is the traditional weapon, a stick of about 1.5 m, a little thicker at one end.
sail éille
Shillelagh
sail éilleStaffs and sticksEurope
The Irish fighting stick, usually blackthorn, with a heavy knob from the root. It was cured in the chimney, which made it black and shiny.
makila
Makila
Staffs and sticksEurope
The Basque walking stick of medlar wood, 1 to 1.4 m, with a metal ferrule. The top pulls off to reveal a hidden spike; it is also a sign of honour and authority.
falcata
Falcata
SwordsEurope
The curved sword of pre-Roman Iberia, single-edged and heavy towards the point, so it cuts like an axe. The name was coined in the 19th century.
taiaha
Taiaha
Spears and polearmsOceania
The Māori staff of wood or whalebone, 1.5 to 1.8 m, with a carved head and tongue for thrusting and a flat blade for striking. It is used in the wero challenge.
میل
Meel
میلTraining toolsMiddle East
The pair of wooden clubs of the Iranian zurkhaneh, swung in rhythm to the drum of the morshed. They range from a few kilograms to tens of kilograms each.